Category Archives: Home & Heart

I work from home and like most of my type, I tend to stay in my comfy PJ’s all day long with my uncombed hair tied up in a quick knot and exhibit the usual telltale sign of “working from home” with wild-looking eyebrows. Or am I the only peculiar one who stays this way? Well, if you can relate, it’s time to shake this complacence off right away.

You can ‘rock’ the whole work-from-home thing

Get ready

Get ready in the morning like you would if you were heading out for work. Yes that includes getting up in the morning (not noon), taking a shower, and getting dressed (do not slip into another set of PJ’s). Which brings me to my next point.

Dress up

This is the fun part. While we tend to wear “appropriate” clothing if we were working outside because we need to catch public transport, maintain the decorum of the company, and appear like we know our shit, working from home gives the advantage of wearing whatever we want. Feel like wearing high-waisted denim shorts and a tank top? Why not! That cute white cotton dress hanging at the back of your cupboard that is a bit too thin for outside wear? Put it on! Feel like a quirky bow tie guys? Go ahead.

Have a relaxed pre-work ritual

Enjoy a quite morning tea/coffee with some light music on, whip up an easy breakfast, and sit in a comfy corner having a “me” moment. Staying relaxed will make you more productive and tune your mind for a positive attitude.

Create an inspirational work space

We have the advantage of customizing our work space however we want. Keep your work space clean, decorative, inspirational, and productive. Which means, have your notepads and pens all ready, a to-do list of things you need to tackle right away, some inspirational quotes to remind you to stay focused and happy, and maybe a table plant or two to add that touch of serenity.

Before I start, let’s get the pronunciation of this Danish word out of the way- Hue-guh.

Alrighty, so what is this? Simply put, this concept is about the feeling of warmth and togetherness/wellbeing.

Joe Pickard partly describes ‘hygge’ as: “…the art of building sanctuary and community, of paying attention to what makes us feel alive. A feeling of belonging to the moment and celebrating the everyday. It’s in the small rituals that comfort us, make us feel at home.”

Let’s face it, most of us live stressful lives and we yearn for that ½ hour of nothingness by mindlessly stretching on the couch in front of the TV sipping on warm tea/coffee or wine. But what do you do if you come back to bawling kids, a messy apartment, or an uninspirational space? It is time my friend to delve into the concept of hygge.

Here are some ways you can apply hygge to your everyday life:

Create a hygge space in your home/apartment. Create a spot where you can relax by yourself with a book or share a hearty meal with family or close friends. Create an inviting/cozy spot or arrange your whole house with comfy furniture, fluffy cushions, warm tones, and mood lighting, and most importantly light a few candles (it’s very hygge).

Start off with quiet mornings. Get up a bit early and take time to slowly wake yourself up by sitting in front of any open window or on your balcony with a warm cup of coffee. Either silently take in the fresh air and surroundings, light a nice scented candle and listen to gentle music, or listen to your favorite podcast.

Invite family or friends over for a meal. Spending time with our loved ones is a sure way of uplifting our mood and creating a sense of togetherness. It needn’t be an elaborate or stressful affair. Share a few pizzas or a simple meal where your guests can help out too. Remember, it’s all about having fun in each other’s company.

Catch up over coffee. Have a small coffee session at your home or at a coffee shop with your partner or a friend. With no distractions like a TV, a one-to-one chat over steaming coffee is a great way to reconnect in a relaxed atmosphere.

Indulge in a treat. Food is really everyone’s happy pill. Tuck into a warm pie or a decadent chocolate cake once in a while.

Connect with nature. Take a break from technology and go for a nice long walk. Rejuvenate your mind by enjoying the calmness and beauty of the landscape.

Start a gratitude journal. Relax in your hygee nook and spend some quite time jotting down happy thoughts and things you’re grateful for.

Before I had my house painted recently, I did a lot of cleaning and clearing out so that it was easier to move the furniture around and it gave me a chance to figure out what I was consciously and unconsciously hoarding in my house.

For one, I had a lot of things I didn’t use or want: A lone belt buckle, old receipts, product manuals, clothes that never saw the light of day, gifts I held onto for sentimental value and other such things that I always imagined would come to later use but never did.

Why was I holding onto a belt buckle? That’s right, coz this particular belt went well with all of my clothes. And it didn’t matter that I had bought two ‘temporary replacement belts’ that went just as well with my new spring wardrobe.

The two rules I followed while discarding most of the stuff was to not get emotionally attached and to not come up with excuses that they were too important to let go.

While it’s ok to cling onto a few things, for the most part of it you have got to learn to be unemotional. Start in one area and keep at it, doing a bit at a time.

Ask yourself three things while decluttering: Is it useful; is it beautiful; and is it of high sentimental value.

As part of my new interior home décor I’ve decided to add indoor plants. Plants to me depict youthfulness and serenity. I love looking at them and yeah, occasionally talking to them too now that I have some inside the house (Just a pep talk to stay alive under my care).

Indoor plants I’ve learnt are awesome. Not only do they look pretty and need minimum maintenance (watering them once a week) but they also do a load of other things.

24-hour oxygen suppliers: While it’s true that photosynthesis stops at night, a few special plants – like orchids, succulents and epiphytic bromeliads – flip that script and take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen; great for bedrooms.

Deter illnesses: Using plants in interior spaces decreases the incidence of dry skin, colds, sore throats and dry coughs. While transpiration takes place indoors, it increases the humidity levels. Research reveals that higher absolute humidity is conducive for decreased survival and transmission of the flu virus.

Mother-in-law’s Tongue

Boost productivity: Being around plants improves concentration, memory and productivity.